Hi I am setting up my R4512 and checking how parallel the blade is with the miter slots. I ran the base of the combination square in the miter slots and ran against the blade back to front and back. There is a slight variation that I am not sure 100% if it an acceptable amount or little enough to count as measurement errorless. Let me know if you think there is a better method.

3 replies so far

I use a method similar to yours, but I mark one tooth towards the front with a marker, set the combo square so that it just barely contacts the tooth, then rotate that same tooth to the back and check again.

Considering the alignment history of the R4512, I’d also check it at different blade heights to see if it shifts.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

Be sure to check this dimension at several blade heights.Many of these machines change alignment every time the blade height is changed.And they do NOT return to the same alignment when the height is returned.Good luck. Hope you experience is better than mine was.

-- Michael: Hillary has a long list of accomplishments, though most DAs would refer to them as felonies.

The recommended process uses a dial indicator. The cheapies at Harbor Freight are good enough. Make or buy a jig that fits snug in the slot but can be repositioned which holds the dial indicator against the blade. Touch the blade with the indicator on the flat side of the blade near, but not on a tooth. Mark the spot where it touches. Rotate the blade about 180 and reposition the indicator to touch the same spot. The difference between the two readings is how far off the miter slot is.

There are a couple videos on this here on LJs. Garagewoodworks has one good one.